Dove keeps Crows flying

PUBLISHED: 12:45 26 January 2006 | UPDATED: 17:11 11 May 2010

Joff Dobson celebrates Jez McMurrough's opening goal

ROYSTON TOWN 3 (McMurrough, R Dove 2) BIGGLESWADE TN 2 (Grieve, Muggeridge) SUBSTITUTE Richard Dove scored twice in a hectic late show at Garden Walk on Saturday. Until the dying minutes it looked as though Royston Town would have to be content with Jez

ROYSTON TOWN 3
(McMurrough, R Dove 2)
BIGGLESWADE TN 2
(Grieve, Muggeridge)
SUBSTITUTE Richard Dove scored twice in a hectic late show at Garden Walk on Saturday.
Until the dying minutes it looked as though Royston Town would have to be content with Jez McMurrough's strike in the 41st minute in this South Midlands League Premier Division clash with Biggleswade Town.
But Dove - who had come on as substitute in the last 15 minutes for veteran striker Joff Dobson - had different ideas.
In the 86th minute his alertness allowed him to take the ball around the desperate Biggleswade keeper Martin Patching and virtually walk it into the net.
Then moments later he was in the right place just inside the penalty area to lob a delicate shot over the advancing Patching.
In between, however, Biggleswade scored themselves when a scramble in the penalty area led to Warren Grieve appearing to produce the touch that took the ball into the net.
Then in injury time Biggleswade had a corner which saw a shot from Bobby Dance blocked with substitute Steve Muggeridge directing home the rebound.
Those last minutes were certainly in contrast with the rest of the game with neither side really taking control or creating chances.
For the Crows, however, the return of Paul Lamont has given the defence a touch of composure.
Lamont, who had a spell at Buntingford Town, is the kind of player who goes about his business in a calm and efficient manner. He has a creative mind to produce the right pass at the right time and, certainly, impressed with his intelligent play.
For much of the first-half neither side showed any real authority and lacked the momentum to create an opportunity.
But in the 32nd minute The Crows should have taken the lead when a delightful one-touch passing move saw Lee Rodgers chasing into the penalty area from the right only to sent his shot over the bar.
Nine minutes later, however, The Crows were ahead. Tom Galvin sent a free-kick from the left into the penalty and there was McMurrough climbing to direct a header beyond Patching.
The second-half, too, produced a lack of chances although Dobson earned himself a booking from referee James Scott after a rash tackle on Carl Ashwell.
For a spell, however, Biggleswade looked threatening when Joel Mason unleashed a powerful, dipping shot that just went wide and Mark Barnes struck a shot into the side-netting.
It seemed that there was nothing left to see - but then we had those dying minutes which proved that there is the potential of extraordinary events right up to the end.
Royston Town: B White: P Lamont, R Cannon, M Thorogood, M Williams, M Baker (M Saunders), L Rogers (P Chappell), S Snowden, J Dobson (R Dove), T Galvin, J McMurrough.